From buildings to books, treasure hunts are helping Bengalureans discover the city. Don’t miss out on the fun

Sparrowz

Treasure hunts. Who doesn’t like ‘em? A Bengaluru-developed app is taking us back to this good ol’ childhood game, and it goes by the name of Sparrowz. Treasures, in this case, are iconic buildings, streets, temples, lakes and graffitis around town, and the ultimate aim here is to know their history and importance better. So the game takes you to Cubbon Park, Lalbagh garden, IIM-B campus, MG Road, Church Street, Malleswaram, Basavanagudi ‘the food hub’, Ulsoor Lake, etc. There’s more. You can also play it at cafes and resorts far-off from the city limits, including Nandi Hills. Most are open to play only on weekends, others through the week.

Here’s how to go hunting: Fire up the app, choose a game and a location, follow the instructions and clues that the app throws up till you get to the ‘destination’ one by one. Unlike the traditional treasure hunts that involve hosts or emcees, it’s played solely via the app, making it a self-guided game. So once you find the ‘destination’, click a selfie with it or answer a question related to it for the app to know that you have completed the task. What’s the prize? You earn reward points, and sometimes goodies too. This aside, it offers you a chance to team up in groups of four, with your family members and friends, run around and flex your muscles, compete in a fun way, learn trivia, and discover the city up and close. So be curious like a sparrow, that’s their funda.

Details: sparrowzapp.com

The Book Fairies Bangalore

Five fairies are hovering around town. Yes. Let us explain. In their 20s-30s, the girl gang is hiding their favourite, pre-loved books at cafes and malls, outside libraries and stores. Why? So that other bookworms can pick them up and read what they enjoyed reading. And how do you know the book is not lost, but strategically placed to be found? Each book comes with a green sticker labeling the group’s name The Book Fairies Bangalore. Some also bear ribbons, bookmarks, and hand-written messages and reviews. So pick it up, read through, and contribute to the cause by hiding it again at a place of your choice, and let the ‘words’ spread.

This is a regional chapter of the worldwide Book Fairies movement, started by London’s Cordelia Oxley this March. The literary mission hit headlines globally when actress and activist Emma Watson was spotted hiding feminist books throughout New York on International Women’s Day, March 8. In Bengaluru, it took off in early June, thanks to corporate professional Namita Nafri who handles the official Instagram account of The Book Fairies Bangalore. In no time, she had four other book angels by her side. Most times they hush up books from their decade-old collections, other times they adhere to a theme, such as biography or autobiography.
The good news is anybody can be a fairy, across gender, professions, and ages. To become one, order the signature green Book Fairy sticker online. Once you’ve received them, take this anonymous game forward.

Details: The Book Fairies Bangalore Instagram page

Bangalore Book Hunt

Cubbon Park metro station has become a hub of creativity. After students of Srishti School of Art Design and Technology joined hands with the authorities at Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited for a mural and installation-savvy 'Art in Transit' project, two other college-goers have kicked in theirs – Bangalore Book Hunt. Much like the Fairies’ project, here, founders Neil Kurien and Jerusha Isaac hide a set of two-three books in the metro premises every week. The 'treasures' are set up at fairly visible spots so that you can hunt them down easily, and are equally identifiable as the covers bear their brand's logo. Alternatively, they post clues on their Bangalore Book Hunt Facebook and Instagram pages. Once you discover the treasure, let them know by posting a picture on their social media accounts followed by #BangaloreBookHunt. You can also re-hide the books at this metro facility.

The duo from St Joseph’s Arts and College don't want you to read just about any book (read: chick lit and pulp fiction), but good literature. That's why the collection is curated. It spans novellas, poetry compilations and short stories across English, Hindi and Kannada, and even features upcoming writers. The hunt comes with a two-fold agenda. One is to spread the joy of reading and foster a sense of community among the bibliophiles. Two, they want the metro-riders to look beyond their smartphones and notice their immediate surroundings better. If this over-a-month-old initiative gets a good traction, it will branch out to other metro stations.
Details: Bangalore Book Hunt Facebook and Instagram pages

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